Ornamental stitching attachment for sewing machines



J. P. ENOS Oct. 13, 1953 ORNAMENTAL STITCHING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed July 13, 1950 3 Sheets-$heet l grwe'rvrai Enos Mia (may,

a 3 a a 4 y w 0 d n 9 J 2m 4 m 1 u m m p 0 2 B 5 5 1 Z 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jnvw/LZZ @757: Z Enas ORNAMENTAL STITCHING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed July 13, 1950 Oct. 13, 1953 21 7. W/LL nm J. P. ENOS Oct. 13, 1953 ORNAMENTAL STITCHING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Eiled July 13, 1950 Patented Oct. 13, 1953 ORNAMENTAL STITCHIN G ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES John P. Enos, Union, N. J., assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application July 13, 1950, Serial No. 17 3,597

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to attachments for sewing machines and more particularly to at tachments adapted to be applied to conventional family sewing machines to enable the machine to perform ornamental stitching operations.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved and simplified attachment of this nature which readily may be modified at will to cause the machine to produce any one of a considerable number of unlike ornamental seams.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ornamental stitching attachment for sewing machines, including a plurality of interchangeable pattern cams, each designed to produce an individual form of ornamental seam, and to provide a simple and efficient construction permittin ready interchange of the cams and for removably securing the selected cam in the attachment and connecting it to suitable actuating means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an attachment of this nature in which the interchange of cams may be effected without the use of tools; .in which the means for supporting the cam in the frame of the attachment and the mechanism for giving to the cam step-by-step rotary movement from the reciprocating movements of the needle-bar comprises a completely organized subassembly adapted to be inserted into the frame of the attachment and into interlocking relation with the cam by a single straight line movement; and in which a readily removable casing element is designed to hold the parts in their normal operative positions on the frame.

With the above and other objects in view, as

will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a left side elevation of an ornamental stitching attachment embodying the present invention, showing it attached to the presser-bar of a sewing machine and actuated by the reciprocating needle-bar.

Fig. 2 is a right side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a left end View of Fig. 2 with a portion of the casing of the attachment shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the attachment and and the casing member of the attachment being shown in section.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the attachment with the work-shifting element thereof shown in full lines in its intermediate position and, in dotted lines in its two extreme lateral positions when the attachment is adjusted to produce the minimum lateral vibration of the work.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on the line 6-5 of Fig. 4, with the casing member shown in dotted lines.

Fig. '7 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially on the line 1-4! of Figs. 4 and 6.

Fig. 8 is a, plan view of the attachment, showing, in dotted lines, the maximum lateral vibration of the work-shifting element.

Fig. 9 is a disassembled perspective view of the attachment.

Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and Marc edge views of various forms of pattern cams which may be used interchangeably in the attachment.

Figs. 10*, 11 12 13 14 and 15 are views showing, respectively, the forms of ornamental seams which are produced by the sewing machine when the cams shown in Figs. 10 to 15 are embodied in the attachment.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the invention is shown as embodied in an attachment comprising a frame F, including a base plate i, spaced upstanding side walls 2, 2 and a bracket 3 adapted to be secured to a sewing machine presser-bar 4, by a thumb screw 5. As hereinafter will be described, the attachment is designed to be actuated by the reciprocatory needle-bar B of a conventional sewing machine, which needle-bar carries an eye-pointed needle 1 held thereto by a needle-clamp 8 having a later,- ally projecting lug 9 which receives the needle clamp screw Ill. The attachment overlies the horizontal work-supporting plate P which carries the usual slide-plate S and throat-plate T of the sewing machine. A feed-dog D, forming a part of a conventional four-motioned work-feeding mechanism, operates through slots in the throatplate and serves to advance the work stepby-step through the machine from front to rear independently of the sidewise movements given to the work by the ornamental stitching attachment.

Pivoted to move back and forth horizontally relative to the frame and transversely of the line of scam formation is a work-shifting member comprising a horizontally disposed shank I I, carrying, at its forward end, a work-shifting foot l2. This foot is serrated at its under side to provide oppositely inclined work-engaging teeth 1.3, M,

as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, which are adapted to shift the work laterally in opposite directions. The foot I2 is formed with a needle slot i5 which permits the foot to vibrate laterally without interference with the needle. The shank II is formed with a slot [6, within which slides a shoulder screw I! threaded into an endwise adjustable vibration regulating member l8 having upstanding side walls I5 and 20. The screw I! constitutes an adjustable pivot for the workshifting member, as later will be described.

Adjacent its rear end the shank i l of the workshifting member carries a stud 2! which passes through an arcuate slot 22 formed in the baseplate I of the frame F and carries a roller stud 23 which tracks a cam groove formed in the periphery of any one of the pattern cams which is fitted into the attachment.

As above stated, the vibration regulating memher [8 is adjustable endwise to move the pivot screw IT lengthwise of the slot IS in the shank H of the work-shifting member. This adjustment is effected by manually pushing or pulling on the upturned tail portion 24 of the member [8. The member [8 may be clamped in its adjusted positions by means of a thumb screw 25 having its shank passing freely through a slot 26 in the side wall IQ of the member l8 and threaded into the upstanding side wall 2 of the frame F. A washer 21 surrounding the shank of the thumb screw 25 between the side walls 2 and 19 assists in clamping the parts together when the thumb screw is tightened. By reason of the adjustment of the pivot screw I! lengthwise of the work-shifting member the workshifting foot l2 may be given lateral vibrations of varying amounts from a given lateral movement of the stud 2| under the influence of the pattern cam. Figs. 5 and 8 illustrate, respectively, in dotted lines the minimum and maximum lateral vibrations given the foot l2 from a unit lateral movement of the stud 2 I, due to endwise adjustment of the vibration regulating member l8.

Important features of this invention, now to be described, are the means for selectively and removably supporting the work-shifting cams in the frame F of the attachment and the means for giving to the selected cam step-by-step rotary movements from the reciprocating motions of the needle-bar. As shown most clearly in Fig. 9, the upstanding side walls 2 and 2 of the frame are provided, respectively, with bearing apertures 28 and 29 into which are designed to be journaled relatively small and relatively large portions 3n and 3|, respectively, of a multi-diameter drive shaft 32, which also has a portion 33 of intermediate diameter. The shaft 32 is. in effect, a single piece but for convenience of manufacture it is preferably formed of two pieces, the part SI of larger diameter being secured upon the part 33 of intermediate diameter by any suitable means, such, for example, as by a set screw 34, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. One or more cam-driving pins 35 are secured in the shaft portion 3| and project therefrom parallel to the axis of the shaft for interengagement with oomplemental sockets 36 provided by each of the interchangeable cams, as hereinafter will be described.

The shaft 32 and its driving means are preferably made as a sub-assembly of which the parts are permanently secured together to provide a unit which may be inserted into the frame and into driving relation with a cam inserted between the side walls 2, 2 or removed therefrom without danger of the parts becoming disassembled. This unitary sub-assembly is desi nated as X in Fig. 9. An operating lever 31, designed to give to the shaft 32 step-by-step rotary motions from the reciprocatory movements of the needle-bar, has its rearward, or hub, end 31 journaled for oscillation on a portion 32 of the shaft 32. Permanently and fixedly secured to one end portion of the shaft 32 between the portion 32 thereof and a riveted over end 32*, is a ratchet wheel 38 which is engaged and actuated by a pawl 39 pivoted at 40 to the operating lever 31. The forward end of the lever 31 is bifurcated, as at 4|, and straddles the lug 9 on the needle-clamp 8. A spring 42, carried by the lever 31 bears upon the pawl and normally maintains it in engagement with the ratchet-wheel, whereupon oscillations of the lever 31, by the needle-bar, effect step-by-step rotations of the cam-driving shaft 32 and the cam secured thereto. The pawl 39 is provided with a laterally projecting finger piece 43 by means of which the pawl may be swung about it pivot 40 and out of engagement with the ratchet when it is desired to discontinue the lateral work-shifting movements effected by the attachment, whereupon straightaway stitching may be performed without removing the attachment from the machine. When the pawl is shifted out of its operative position, the spring 42 enters a notch 44 in the free end portion of the pawl and holds it retracted, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Figs. 10 to 15, inclusive, show various forms of pattern cams, numbered 45*, 45 45, 45, 45 and 452 which may be used interchangeably in the present attachment to produce various forms of ornamental stitching as shown in Figs. 10 to 15 respectively. Each of these cams comprises a cylindrical body portion 46 having a peripheral cam groove 41 adapted to receive the rollerstud 23 carried by the shank ll of the workshifting member. Each cam groove affords active cam surfaces 48 which serve to shift the roller-stud 23 and work-shifting member laterally and inactive straight portions 49 which produce a dwell and holds the parts against movement while the needle is in the work. The extent and relative arrangement of the cam surfaces 48 and the straight portions 49 of the cam grooves 47 determine the pattern of the ornamental seam to be produced. The cams are of such width that they snugly fit between the upstanding walls 2, 2 of the frame F. Each cam I is formed with a relatively small axial bore 50 adapted to fit upon the intermediate portion 33 of the drive shaft 32 and a larger aligned counterbore 5! designed to fit upon the relatively large portion 31 of the shaft. The radial wall connecting the bore 53 and the counterbore 5| is formed with a plurality of sockets 36, hereinbefore mentioned, to receive one or more camdriving pins 35 carried by the shaft 32. This pin-and-socket arrangement affords one form of readily separable interengaging means for locking the cam and the shaft together against relative rotation, thereby permitting the interchange of cams without the use of tools of any kind. The sockets 36 are so arranged relative to the cam groove 4'! that when the cam and the drive shaft are assembled the active cam surfaces 48 of the cam groove may move the workshifting member laterally only while the needle is out of the work, thereby protecting both the work and the needle against damage.

To prevent retrograde movement of the pattern cam during the downstroke of the 'needle and when the pawl 39 is being retracted to engage the next tooth of the ratchet wheel, a leafspring 52 is secured to the base plate I of the frame F by a bolt 53 and has its forward end bearing upwardly on the periphery of the pattern cam. This spring also serves to raise the cam when the shaft 32 is withdrawn therefrom, thereby facilitating removal of the cam from the attachment. The bolt '53 passes freely through a slot 1-8 in the vibration regulating member 18 and assists in guiding that member when it is shifted relative to the frame.

To place any one of the pattern cams into the attachment the selected cam is placed edgewise above the attachment as shown in Fig. 9 and is lowered between the sidewalls 2, 2' until the counterbore 5| is aligned with the bearing aperture 2-8 in the side wall 2 The sub-assembly X is then moved into position relative to the frame and to the cam and the shaft 32 is inserted axially through the pattern cam to place portions 30 and 3! into the bearing apertures 28 and 29, respectively, in the frame of the attachment to position the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 7. During the insertion of the shaft it may "have to be turned one way or the other slightly to align one or more of the pins 35 with one or more of the apertures 136 in the cam. Next a casing member, or cover, 51, of substantially inverted U -shape in vertical section, and having depending side walls 55 and 58 formed with clearance slots 55 and 56' designed to fit, respectively, over the reduced end portion 30 and over a portion 32 of the shaft '32, is moved downwardly over the pattern cam and the upstanding side walls 2, 2 of the frame F until an offset ledge 51 of the casing rests upon the upper surface of the bracket 3 constituting a part of the frame of the attachment. With the parts in this position the pattern cam is locked .to the shaft and the shaft is held against removal from the frame. If desired. the casing member may be secured to the frame by means .of a thumb screw 58 passing through an opening '59 in the ledge 51 and threaded into an aperture 60 in the bracket 3, although this is not essential as there .is no tendency for the casing member to move from its shaft locking position.

In the drawings, there have been shown a plurality of sockets 36 and a pair of diametrically opposite pins '35 adapted to fit into oppositely disposed pairs of said holes. This plurality of pins and sockets is not essential, one of each would suffice, and are used merely to facilitate the assembling of the pattern cam and the shaft.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that this invention has provided a simple ornamental stitching attachment capable of producing a great number of ornamental seams, the number and variety of cams, and thereby the seams, being almost without limit.

It will also be apparent that the interchange of cams may readily be effected and without the use of tools.

It will further be apparent that the unitary construction of the sub-assembly X also greatly facilitates the interchange of cams inasmuch as it is not necessary to disarrange any of the parts of the cam-rotating means in making such interchange.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:

1. An ornamental stitching attachment for a sewing machine having a presser-bar and a re ciprocating needle-bar, comprising a frame designed to be connected to and supported by the presser-bar; a horizontally movable work-shifting member pivoted to. oscillate relative to said frame; a horizontally disposed shaft journaled in bearings in said frame and removable endwise there: from, :a shoulder formed on said shaft and disposed substantially outside of the. confines of said frame, coupling means on said shaft for releasably looking to said shaft any one, of a plurality of unlike pattern cams; ratchet and pawl means actuated by said needle-bar for giving to said shaft step-by-step rotary motions; a pattern cam removably coupled to said shaft to be rotated thereby; means carried by said worlu shifting member and actuated by said cam to shift the member horizontally; and a casing mem ber fitted over said frame and engaging said shaft shoulder to prevent removal of said shaft from said frame while said casing member is in its normal frame-covering position.

2. An attachment for a sewing machine having a presser-bar and a reciprocating needle-bar, comprising a frame designed to be connected to and supported by the presser-bar, said frame having-spaced walls each affording a shaft hearing; a horizontally movable work-shifting member pivoted to oscillate relative to said frame; a horizontally disposed shaft journaled in the bearings in said frame and removable therefrom, said shaft having a shoulder and end portions projecting outwardly beyond each of said walls; means actuated by said needle-bar for giving to said shaft step-by-step rotary motions; a pattern cam secured to said shaft to be rotated thereby; means carried by said work-shifting member and actuated by said cam to shift the member horizontally; and a casing member fitted over said frame and over the projecting ends of said shaft and engaging said shoulder to prevent removal of said shaft from said frame while said casing member is in its normal frame-covering position.

3. An attachment for a sewing machine having a resser-bar and a reciprocating needle-bar, comprising a frame designed to be connected to and supported by the presser-bar, said frame having spaced walls affording shaft-bearings of unequal diameters; a horizontally movable workshifting member pivoted to oscillate relative to said frame; a multi-diameter shaft journaled in the bearings in said frame and .removable endwise therefrom, said shaft having reduced end portions projecting outwardly beyond the spaced walls of said frame; means actuated by said needle-bar for giving to said shaft step-by-step rotary motions; a pattern cam located between said walls and removably secured to the larger diameter of said shaft to be rotated thereby; means carried by said work-shifting member and actuated by said cam to shift the member horizontally; and a slotted casing member fitted over said frame and straddling the projecting ends of said shaft to prevent removal of said shaft from said frame while said casing member is in its normal frame-covering position.

4. For use in a work-shifting sewing machine attachment having a frame designed to be secured to a presser-bar and having spaced vertical walls provided, respectively, with relatively large and relatively small aligned shaft-bearings adapted to receive a drive shaft having portions of relatively large. intermediate. and relatively small diameters, and a work-shifter pivotally mounted for movement relative to said frame; a work-shifter actuating cam designed to fit between said walls and comprising a cylindrical member having a peripheral cam groove, an axial bore designed to fit upon the intermediate diameter of said shaft and a counterbore designed to fit upon the relatively large diameter of said shaft, said cam also having an aperture designed to receive a driving member projecting from said shaft as the shaft is inserted into said bearings.

5. In an attachment of the class described including three unitary sub-assemblies adapted to be detachably assembled together; the first of such three units comprising a frame including a pair of spaced walls formed with a pair of aligned bearing apertures, a movable work-shifting member carried by said frame and pivoted to oscillate relative to said frame, and a cam follower carried by said work-shifting member and projecting between said spaced frame walls; the second of such units comprising a cylindrical pattern cam having a peripheral pattern groove and a central longitudinal aperture, said cam being removably disposed between the spaced frame walls thereby to have its groove receive said cam follower and its central aperture aligned with said bearing apertures; the third of such units comprising a cam-actuating mechanism having a shaft disposed within said bearing and cam apertures and being removable endwise therefrom, a shoulder formed on one end portion of said shaft thereby to be disposed substantially outside of the confines of said frame whenever said shaft is journaled within said frame apertures, an actuating matically locking said cam upon said shaft whenever the latter is inserted into the cam aperture thereby to procure synchronized rotary movements of said cam and shaft elements; and a substantially U-shaped cover element removably positioned over said frame and engaging said shaft shoulder for releasably locking said camactuating unit in operative relation with the other two units.

6. An attachment for a sewing machine having a presser-bar and a reciprocatory needle-bar, comprising a frame designed to be connected to and supported by the presser-bar, said frame having spaced walls affording shaft-bearings of unequal diameters; a horizontally movable workshifting member pivoted to oscillate relative to said frame; a multidiameter shaft journaled in the bearings in said frame and removable endwise therefrom, said shaft having a reduced end portion projecting outwardly beyond one of the frame walls; means actuated by said needle-bar for giving to said shaft step-by-step rotary motions; a pattern cam located between said walls and removably secured to the larger diameter of said shaft to be rotated thereby; means carried by said work-shifting member and actuated by said cam to shift the member horizontally; and a slotted casing member fitted over said frame and straddling the reduced projecting end of said shaft and engaging the shoulder formed at the junction of the reduced shaft end and the larger diameter of said shaft to prevent removal of said shaft from said frame while said casing member is in its normal frame-covering position.

'7. An attachment for a sewing machine having a presser-bar' and a reciprocating needle-bar, comprising a frame designed to be connected to and supported by the presser-bar, said frame having spaced walls affording shaft-bearings of unequal diameters; a horizontally movable workshifting member pivoted to oscillate relative to said frame; a multidiameter shaft journaled in the bearings in said frame and removable endwise therefrom, said shaft having a reduced end portion projecting outwardly beyond one of the frame walls; means actuated by said needle-bar for giving to said shaft step-by-step rotary motions; a pattern cam located between said walls and removably secured to the larger diameter of said shaft to be rotated thereby; means carried by said work-shifting member and actuated by said cam to shift the member horizontally; a slotted casing member fitted over said frame and straddling the reduced projecting end of said shaft and engaging the shoulder formed at the junction of the reduced shaft end and the larger diameter portion of said shaft to prevent removal of said shaft from said frame while said casing member is in its normal frame-covering position, and a spring finger carried by said frame at a location beneath the longitudinal axis of said shaft and engaging the periphery of said cam.

3. An attachment for a sewing machine having a presser-bar and a reciprocating needle-bar, comprising a frame designed to be connected to and supported by the presser-bar and having a pair of spaced walls formed with aligned bearing apertures; a horizontally movable Work-shifting member pivoted to oscillate relative to said frame; a centrally apertured cylindrical pattern cam normally disposed between said frame walls; a horizontally disposed shaft slidingly mounted within said cam and bearing apertures and re-' movable endwise therefrom; matching female and male elements formed on said cam and said shaft for releasably locking said cam on said shaft; means on and adjacent one end of said shaft and engaging one of said spaced walls upon the insertion of said shaft into said bearing apertures thereby to arrest the endwise move ment of said shaft in one direction; a substantially u-shaped cover removably positioned over said frame in straddling relation with said spaced walls with one wall portion of said cover engaging said shaft adjacent the other end portion thereof thereby to arrest the endwise movement of said shaft in a second direction; means including a ratchet-wheel fixed upon said shaft and actuated by the needle-bar for giving to said shaft step-by-step rotary motion; and means carried by said work-shifting member and actuated by said cam to shift the member horizontally.

9. An attachment for a sewing machine having a presser-bar and a reciprocating needle-bar, comprising a frame designed to be connected to and supported by the presser-bar and having a pair of spaced walls formed with aligned bearing apertures; a movable work-shifting member pivoted to oscillate relative to said frame; a centrally apertured cylindrical pattern-cam normally disposed between said frame walls; a horizontally disposed shaft slidingly mounted within said cam and bearing apertures and removable endwise therefrom; matching female and male elements formed on said cam and said shaft for releasably 9 locking said cam on said shaft; a first shoulder formed on one end portion of said shaft and engaging the inside face of one of said spaced walls upon the insertion of said shaft into said bearing apertures, thereby to arrest the endwise movement of said shaft in one direction; a second shoulder formed on the other end portion of said shaft so as to project outside the confines of the other of said spaced walls; a substantially U- shaped cover having a slot therein and removably positioned over said frame in straddling relation with said spaced walls with its slot receiving that end of said shaft adjacent the second shoulder and with the inner face of said cover engaging such shoulder thereby to arrest the endwise 15 10 shaft adjacent the second shoulder and actuated by the needle-bar for giving to said shaft stepby-step rotary motion; and means carried by said work-shifting member and actuated by said cam to shift the member horizontally.

JOHN P. ENOS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,551,453 Aronson et all Aug. 25, 1925 2,202,609 Sturzlinger May 28, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 277,434 Italy Sept. 9, 1930 

